The Cross - Over - Basketball

DREAMS
Like most young basketball hopefuls, playing professional basketball was always a dream of mine.
Unfortunately, I was not blessed physically. I hovered around 5 feet in height for most of my teenage
life. Nevertheless, despite my athletic shortcomings, I was consumed with desire to play professional
basketball. Although my dream seemed unrealistic to most, I had this uncanny belief that I could
beat the odds. When I started forming a relationship with God, this crazy dream began to make more
sense.

No matter how hard I tried, I could never convince coaches that I was worthy to play on their team. I
spent countless hours in my backyard in Inkster, Michigan. For a long time I didn't even have a
basketball rim, so I'd spend hours working on my ball handling, dribbling between my legs through
the neighborhood. When we finally bought a garage, I'd shoot until bedtime. I was determined, but
no matter how hard I worked, I was never good enough.

LIFE CHANGE
Somewhere along the line, my opinion of church changed. I began putting more time and energy into
my relationship with God, everything in my life began to make more sense - especially my basketball
career. I started taking God at His word, believing the promises found in the Bible. Two particular
verses stood out. They changed my whole viewpoint:

The moment I began trusting these verses and living a life that pleases God was the moment my life
started making sense. I went from a kid who was cut 5 times in junior high and high school to
playing semi- professional basketball in the ABA (American Basketball Association). This season, I
signed with the East Kentucky Miners of the CBA (Continental Basketball Association), one of the
most legit minor leagues underneath the NBA. I accomplished so much more than many people
thought possible, and I owe every bit of that success to my life-changing decision to put my Lord and
Savior Jesus Christ over everything else, INCLUDING basketball.

This website is dedicated to sharing the insight that God has given me with all of the aspiring
basketball dreamers out there who have an intense passion for the game. Passions and talents should
NEVER be overlooked. They must be given a foundation so they can be cultivated and nurtured. That
foundation is Jesus Christ!

FIRST STEP
The first step toward developing that foundation lies in this truth that must shape the rest of your
career - You MUST develop a relationship with Jesus Christ, and put that relationship ABOVE
EVERYTHING else - ESPECIALLY basketball. This website is dedicated to explaining how and why
that is important.

                                                                 click below for
                                               A Note From Mark